Toy ball



(No Model.)

W. J. PAUL-KNEE.

TOY BALL Paten i 7 N a ted Oct. 11

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UNTTED STATES PATENT i met.

WILLIAM J. FAULKNER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

TOY BALL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters gIatent No. 484,189, dated October 11, 1892. Application filed November 2'7, 1891. Serial No.418,256. (No model.)

.To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM J. FAULKNER, of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inToys orAdvertising Devices;

and I do hereby declare that the following is afull, clear, and exact-description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked ighereon, which form a part of this specifica ion.

This invention relates to a toy or advertis ing device in the nature of a hollow separable ball containing a folded strip of paper, upon which may be placed or printed matter for in- The invention consists in the matters here inafter described, and pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a diametrical section through the ball, showing the hinge-joint and spring-catch of the two semispherical parts or sections thereof. Fig. 2 is'a similar section showing the parts in the open position. Fig. 3 is a plan view showing the two parts of the ball when open. Fig. 4: isa diametrical section illustrating a modification in the construction of the ball.

a Fig. 5 is a plan view of one of the partitions or diaphragms shown in Fig. 3.

The ball A is made in the form of a hollow sphere, and is composed of two semispherical cups or shells B and O, the edges 1) and c of which are dressed or formed to fit accurately upon each other and are provided with interlocking devices by means of which said edges may be held firmly in contact, except when said interlocking devices are disengaged by hand to permit of access to the interior of the ball. These semispherical shells B and C, which constitute the ball A, may be made of any suitable materialsuch as metal, hard rubber, papier mach, &c.and may be molded, struck up in dies, or formed by spinning, according to the nature of the material used.

Figs. 1, 2, and 3 represent a ball in which I the shells B and C are formed from fiat disks ing radial grooves or corrugations b and c, which gradually increase in width and depth from the center to the edge of the shell, thus taking up the surplus metal at the edge of the blank and increasing the strength of the shells, and thereby permitting of the use of a metal of less thickness than could otherwise be used. In forming these shells B and C by spinning them up from a flat blank the walls thereof will of course be plainsurfaced. The edges of the shells B and C are connected at one side by a hinge a, the shell B being provided at a point opposite said hinge with a spring-tongue b adapted to engage when the shells are closed upon each other a projection 0 properly located adjacent to the edge of the shell C, thus locking the shells together to form the sphere or ball'A. The hinge a and the locking device I) c are arranged within the shell to avoid exterior projections, which would interfere with the use of the article as a ball. Interior-1y one or both of the shells B and C are provided with a diaphragm B C, arranged parallel with the edge of the shell and serving the one say C'as a platform or table upon which to secure one end of a folded strip D, the leaves or folds d of which are preferably of approximatelycircular contour and of a diameter corresponding, substantially, with that of the diaphragm C, so that said folded strip may be readily contained within the space between the diaphragms B and C when both are employed, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4. Should, however, the diaphragm B be omitted, the number of folds or leaves (1 of the strip D may be increased, and in some instances those adjacent to the outer or free end Will be gradually decreased in diameter to follow the circular or arched contour of the shell B when the shells are looked together.

The joints connecting the leaves of the folded strip may be strengthened by linen hinge-strips d, as indicated, and the leaves may be embellished on one or both sides by pictorial representations or other ornamentation, or business announcements or advertisements may be imprinted upon said leaves at one or both sides to be exposed to view upon The diaphragm or diaphragms B and 0 used in connection with metallic shells B and O are also preferably formed of metal and may be secured within the shell or shells by means of solder, or the metal of the shell may be indented ex'teriorly at two or more points to form interior projections, beneath which the edges of the diaphragm may be confined. In the latter case it is not essential that the diaphragm be a metallic one.

In the form of ball A shown in Fig. 4, wherein the shells B and C are formed of hard rubber, papier-mach, or other suitable nonmetallic substance, the shells may be provided with an interior annular shoulder or offset C upon which the diaphragms may be seated and secured by means of cement or by screws 0 The latter may also serve to secure the fixed end of the strip D or the mirror E. Another convenient method of securing these diaphragms is illustrated in the lower part of Fig. 4, wherein the diaphragm is provided with radial tongues [7 Fig. 5, which are sprung into recesses 5*, formed in the Wall of the shell B, and retained in an obvious manner.

The diaphragm B, which is not encumbered bya strip D, is desirably provided with projecting tangs b, which may be bent over the edges of a mirror E to retain the same in position upon said diaphragm B, the mirror being thus exposed to View when the ball is open, as in Fig. 3.

In the hinged form of ball shown it is desirable that guide studs or lugs project above the edge of one or both of the shells B and C to guide the opposite shell and insure the accurate meeting of the edges 1) and c of said shells and also to support the shells against any lateral strain that would tend to shift them upon each other. Such guide studs or lugs are conveniently formed by tongues 0 projecting from opposite edges of the diaphragm O or diaphragms and bent to lie snugly against the inner wall of the shell 0, to which they may be soldered, their outer ends projecting slightly above the edge 0 of said shell, as illustrated in Fig. 2.

In the form of ball A shown in Fig. 4t that is to say, a ball constructed of shells B and 0, formed of rubber, papier-mach, or the likethe shells may be connected by screwthreads F, as shown, in lieu of the hinge and spring-catch heretofore described. I do not, however, wish to confine myself to any specific interlocking devices, as many known simple and desirable forms may be used.

One of the shells B or O is provided with a small aperture to admit of the passage of an elastic cord G, the inner end of which is knotted or otherwise secured against with,- drawal through said aperture, whereby the ball A may be used as a return ball. I prefer to locate this aperture near the edge of the shell in which it is formed, in order that a cord G, if broken, may be readily replaced in any usual way. In the corrugated form of shells shown the closed sides or ends of the shells will be plain-surfaced for this purpose, the inner ends of the corrugations terminating at a little distance from the apex of the shells.

What I claim is 1. A hollow ball comprising two separable parts or shells, said ball being provided interiorly with a diaphragm, to which is secured a folded strip, substantially as described.

2. A hollow ball comprising two separable parts or shells, one of which is provided with a diaphragm arranged parallel with the edges of said shell, and a folded strip secured to said diaphragm, substantially as described.

3. A hollow ball comprising two separable parts or shells, said ball being provided interiorly with two diaphragms arranged parallel with each other and with the meeting edges of the shells, and a mirror secured upon one of said diaphragms, substantially as described.

4:. A hollow ball comprising two separable parts or shells hinged together, one of which is provided with a diaphragm secured in the same parallel with and inside of the edge thereof to form a recess, said diaphragm being provided with integral marginal tongues which project beyond the edge of the shell within which said diaphragm is secured to afford guides for the edge of the other shell, substantially as described.

5. A hollow ball comprising two separable parts or shells having interiorly-arranged diaphragms, to one of which is secured a folded strip, one of said shells being provided near its edge with an elastic cord, substantially as described.

6. A hollow ball comprising two separable parts or shells united by a hinge and provided with a catch to hold them closed, one or both of said parts or shells being provided with an interior diaphragm, on which may be placed or secured a mirror, picture, or the like, substantially as described.

7. A hollow ball comprising two separable parts or shells united by a hinge and provided with a catch to hold them closed, one or both of said parts or shells being provided with an interior diaphragm, on which may be placed or secured a mirror, picture, or the like, and an elastic cord attached to the ball, substantially as described.

8. A hollow ball comprising two separable parts or shells hinged together, one of which is provided with a diaphragm secured in the my inventionI affix my signature in presence same parallel with the edge thereof and proof two witnesses. vided with tongues or projections extending beyond its edge to engage the edge of the i 5 other part or shell, and a folded strip secured Witnesses:

to said diaphragm, substantially as described. 0. CLARENCE POOLE,

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as GEORGE W. HIGGINS, J r.

WILLIAM J. FAULKNER. 

